Wire-twisting device.



C. B. RANDALL.

WIRE TWISTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE10,1013.

1 1 1 9,874. Patented Dec. 8, 1914:`

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THE MORRIS PETERS C01v FHOTU'LITND'. WASHINGYDN. D

c. RANDALL. WIRE TWISTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,1913. 1,1 1 9,87%.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914,

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CECYL E. RANDALL, OF ABER/BEEN, WASHINGTON.

WIRE-TWISTING DEVICE.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Cricri. E. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Chehalis and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Twisting Devices, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in wire working tools, and more particularly to wire twisters; and the object of my invention is to provide a tool which may be employed to twist together adjacent strands of wir'e, and which will therefore be of gr'eat value in the construction of wire felices or in the application of binding wires to mold frames to cinch and hold in place the forms for concr'ete.

Afurther object of my invention is t0 so construct the tool that it may be also employed to untwist strands of wire previously twisted together.

In accomplishing these objects I employ a pair of co-acting disk-shaped heads having slots through which the wires to be twisted or untwisted pass and handles by means of which the heads may be rotated with respect to each other and a die-plate supported for rotation between the heads and provided with spaced parallel slots to form a wire-engaging linger, the die-plate being so ar'- ranged that it may be rotated with respect to one of the heads by movement of the other head. In this connection, aI further object of my invention is to so arrange the operating heads of the tool and the die plate that the die plate may be rotated in but one direction only with respect to the operating heads and its direction of rotation reversed only by reversing the manner in which the tool is applied, this absolutely preventing all danger of twisting `the wire in one direction when swinging the handle in one direction and of untwisting it when swinging the handle in the reverse direction.

A further object` of my invention is to provide the operating heads and die plate with interlocking means operable by handle contained latches by which the die plate may be positively locked to rotate with either' of the heads or locked to both heads to prevent any independent movement of either' the heads'or die plate.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a number of different methods by which the die plate may be rotatively mount- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed June 16, 1913. Serial No. 773,950.

ed between the relatively movable operating heads.`

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved wire twister; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2&2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the inner face of one of the operating heads; Fig. l is a similar' plan view showing the inner face ef the other operating head; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the die pl ate removed from the tool; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through one form of clamping ring by means of which the operating heads and die plate are movably connected together; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken' through the operating heads and die plate, showing` the manner in which a pawl co-acting between one of the operating heads and die plate is mounted; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar' to that in Fig. 2, showing a modified form of locking ring for securing the operating heads and die plate together; Fig. 9 is a similar view, showing a still further modilied form of construction, the operating heads and die plate being there secured by tongues formed integrally with one of the operating heads instead of by a locking ring.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings'by the same reference characters.

The preferred embodiment of my inventien, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, includes operating heads 10 and 11 having tubular handles 1'?. and 13, respectively, and a die plate 11i; mounted between said heads. Each of the heads is circular' in shape as shown in Fig. 1 and the handles extend radially from the heads. Each of the heads is provided centrally with a circular opening le and with a radially extending slot 1G extending from the opening. heads 10 and 11 are provided with circular' recesses 17 adapted to seat the die plate ll, which is also circular in shape, when` the heads are fastened together', as shown in` Fig. 2.

A ring 18 of resilient metal, open at one The inner or opposed faces of the side to correspond to the slots in the operating heads is provided interiorly with a peripheral channel 19 to seat the circumferential edge portions of the operating heads and so bind the heads together one upon either side of the die plate, said edges of the heads being cut-away to permit them to seat in the groove of the ring and to provide annular shoulders 20 which bear against the inner face of the ring. The ring is sprung sutciently to permit the insertion of the assembled operating heads and die plate in place and is then released when it immediately closes about said parts to hold the same together. The ring is then further secured in place by a plurality of screws or other suitable fastening devices 21 which are passed through the ring and into one or the other of the operating` heads to secure the ring to said head with its opening in alinement with and forming a continuation of the slot of said head. The die plate 14 is also formed of metal, preferably steel, and is provided with a pair of parallel spaced slots 22 defining a tongue or finger 23 eX- tending radially from the center to the circumference of the die plate, the slots being so formed that in one position of the die plate their outer edges are in a plane with the edges of the slots of the heads, as shown in F ig. 1 of the drawings. Each face of the die plate is provided with a circumferentially formed series of spaced apart, V- shaped notches 24 so arranged that one of the notches in each series is formed in the tongue adjacent the free end thereof and further so arranged that the slots 22 providing the tongue act as notches whereby the series are each complete and uninterrupted. Both faces of the die plate at a point diametrically opposite the free end of the tongue 23 are cut-away to form recesses 26, the inner faces of which converge toward the adjacent edge of the die plate, as best shown in Fig. 2.

he inner faces of the operating heads 10 and 11 are recessed as at 27 and 28, respectively, to pivotally receive locking pawls 29 and 30 adapted for locking engagement one in the notches in one side of the die plate and the other in the notches in the other` side of the die plate, these pawls being held in operative position by helical springs 81 and 32, respectively. lt will be apparent that inasmuch as these pawls are constantly in engagement with the notched faces of the die plate that the die plate may be rotated in one direction with respect to either operating head by roper movement of the other operating head. Furthermore, as the pawls will ride readily out of the notches upon the reverse of either head, 1t will be apparent that the die plate may be intermittently rotated by holding one head sta tionary and by oscillating the other head.

lThe operating heads 10 and 11 are provided in their inner faces with substantially rectangular shaped recesses 33 and 34 formed between the openings 15 of the heads and the handles 12 and 13, respectively, vand pivotally mounted in these recesses are substantially rectangular shaped pawls 35 and 36 adapted for engagement in the recesses 26 of the die plate and normally held in close engagement against the adjacent faces of the die plate by springs 37 and 88. It will be apparent that when these latter pawls are seated in the notches 26 of the die plate all independent movement of the operating heads and die plate is prevented and that when one of these pawls is seated in one of the recesses 26, the die plate will be locked against independent movement with respect to the head carrying such pawl.

In order to render the instrument operative it is therefore necessary to provide means by which either or both of the last described pawls may be held out of engage ment with the die plate and consequently from engaging in the seats 26 thereof. To accomplish this the recesses 33 and 34 are formed to either provide space between the outer faces of the pawls 35 and 36 or to eX- tend completely through the outer faces of the operating heads, as preferred, and the pawls 35 and 36 are provided upon their outer faces with eyes 39 and 40. As previously described, the handles 12 and 13 are tubular in construction and latch rods 41 and 42 extend longitudinally through the handles, terminating at their forward ends in wedge heads 43 and 44 which pass through the eyes 39 and 40, respectively, in such a manner that when the latch rods are moved toward the operating heads, the wedge faces of their heads engaging through the eyes of the pawls draw the same away from the die plate in the manner shown at the right of Fig. 2. On the other hand, when the latch rods are retracted the springs controlling the action of the pawls force them back into engagement with the die plate as shown at the left of Fig. 2. rPhe free end portions of the handles 12 and 13 are provided in their outer faces with slots 45 and 46 and studs 47 and 48 carried by the free ends of the latch rods 41 and 42 extend through these slots to provide means whereby the latch rods may be reciprocated.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with Ythe drawings, it is thought Y that the operation of my 'improved wire twister will be readily understood and only a brief description of the same is therefore deemed necessary.

In operation, the tool is positioned to bring adjacent, parallel strands of wire upon either side of the finger 23 of the die plate and passing through the slots 16 of the op-V erating heads, as shown in dotted lines inv iso Fig. 1 of the drawings, the operating heads and die plate being so moved as to bring the slots oi the heads in alinenient with each other and to position the tongue oil' the die plate cent ally oit' said slots. When so positioned, assuming that the end portions of the wire are fastened, if either' of the latch rods is moved outwardly to release its pawl from the seat oi its operating head, the die plate may be rotated with respect to said head by continuous rotation oil2 the opposite operating head by means ol its handle to twist the wire upon each side oi. the tool. 0n the other hand, it both latches are thrown out oit operative position, the die plate may be rotated with respect lto eitheror both of the heads by a continuous rotation of either or both oit' the operating heads by means of their handle or by an oscillatory rotation of either or both oli the heads to wist the wire. This arrangement ot locking pawls permits the rotation oit' the die plate in one direction only with respect to the heads and it will be apparent that it" the wire is to be untwisted the instrument must be reversed upon its application to the wire in order to permit the reverse rotation of the die plate.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of locking ring for securing the operating heads and die plate in assembled position. In this instance, the operating head l0 is identical with the head 10,

while the operating head lll is provided with a threaded annular flange a9. The clamping ring 50 employed is open at one side corresponding to the construction of the clamping ring 1S and is formed oi? resilient metal but instead of being provided with a peripheral groove in its inner face it is provided with an inwardly directed peripheral ilange 51 at one side to engage in the annular seat of the operating head l0 and has its inner face at its opposite side threaded for engagement with the threads 49. The ring above described, when in place, is additionally secured by means oi set-screws 21.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, I have illustrated a construction which dispenses with the locking ring, one of the operating heads, in this instance the operating head 11` being provided with a plurality ol spaced apart, radially extending tongues 52 which may be bent about the periplicral edge of the operating head 10 to secure the open ating heads and die-plate together.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A wire twister including a circular die plate provided with spaced slots forming a radial finger and upon its opposite faces with series ot concentrically arranged pawl-re ceiving notches, twisting heads mounted one upon either side of the die plate and held against disengagement therefrom and free to .rotate independently thereof, and spring pressed pawls carried by the heads and seating in the notches ol' the die plate.

L. A wire twister including a pair of eo-` acting heads having their inner iaces recessed, a die plate seated in the recesses of said heads and free to rotate therein, means (zo-acting between the heads and die plate whereby a turning of either head may be caused to turn the die plate, and means for clamping the heads in position about the die plate.

Z13. A wire twister including a pair of coacting heads having their inner faces recessed, a die plate seated in the recesses o'f said heads and tree to rotate therein, means co-acting between the heads and die plate whereby a turning oi either head may be caused to turn the die plate, and means for (damping the beads in position about the die plate, said means including a spring clamping ring eng ging about the peripheral edge portions ol the heads, and means 'for seein ing the clamping ringl to one ol the heads.

5. A. wire twister including a pair of coacting heads having their inner liaees recessed, a die plate seated in the recesses of said heads and tree to rotate therein, means eo-aeting between the heads and die plate wherebyT a turning oitl either head may be caused to turn the die plate, and means for clamping the heads in position about the die plate, said means including a spring clamping member provided interiorly with a circuinlerential groove to seat the peripheral edge portions oi the heads.

(3. [t wire twister incliuling rotatabl7 connected heads having radial wirereceiving slots, a die plate mounted lnitween the heads and slotted to provide a radial wire-engaging linger, means co-aeting between the heads and die plate preventing rotation o'l the die plato in one direction while leaving it l'ree to rotate in the opposite direction, and means carried by one oit the heads and movable into active position to lock the die plate against rotation in either direction with respect to said head.

7. A wire twister including rotatably connected heads having radial wire-receiving slots, a die plate mounted between the heads `ind slotted to provide a radial. wire-engaging linger, means (zo-acting between the heads and die plate preventing rotation of the die plate in one direction while leaving it free to rotate in the opposite direction, means carried by the heads for locking engagement with the die plate to lock the same against rotation in either direction with respect to the heads, and means for throwing said locking means into and outof active position.

8. A wire twister including rotatably connected heads having` radial wire-receiving slots and tubular handles, a die plate mounted between said heads and slotted to provide a radial wire-engaging linger, said die plate being provided upon each face with a concentric series ot pawl-receiving` notches and upon each face at points opposite the tree end of its tongue with additional pawl-engaging seats, spring-pressed pawls carried by the heads and engaging each in one of the notches of the series of notches, springpressed pawls carried by the heads and movable automatically into engagement with the additional pawl-receiving notches, and operating rods mounted in the tubular handles and movable to Jforce said latter pawls out of engagement.

9. A wire twister including a die-plate rovided upon its on Josite faces with series of concentrically arranged pawlreceiving notches, twisting heads mounted upon either side of the die-plate and tree to rotate inde pendently thereof, pawls carried by the heads and seating in the notches of the die Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

plate, and means for preventing disengagement oi the heads from each other.

10. il wire twister including rotatably connected heads, a die plate mounted between the heads, means co-acting between the heads and die plate preventing rotation of the die plate in one direction while leaving it free to rotate in the opposite direction, pawl engaging seats formed in opposite sides of the die plate,l pawls movable into engagement with suoli seats, and oper ating members movable to force the pawls out ot engagement with such seats.

ll. il. wire twister including rotatably7 connected heads, a die plate mounted between the heads, means co-acting between the heads and die plate preventing rotation ot the die plate in one direction while leaving it `free to rotate in the opposite direction, pawl engaging seats formed in opposite sides of the die plate, pawls movable into engagement with such seats, and operating members movable to force the pawls out ci engagement with such seats, said members being reciprocally mounted and having cam heads movable through eyes carried by the pawls.

lin testimony whereof l aiiix my signature in presence oi two witnesses.

CECYL E. RiiNDALL.

llli tnesses Rosi-i S. RANDALL, Gno. DRUJY.

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Washington, D. C. 

